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J. J. KELLY.

v GAR AXLE. No. 347,353. Patented Aug. 17, 1886.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. KELLY, OF SAN FRANOISOO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO LORENZO D. LATIMER, \VILLIAM W. MORROW, AND RICH- ARD LAMBERT, OF SAME PLACE.

' CAR-AXLE.

, SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 347,353, dated August 17, 1886.

Application filed November 5, 1885; v SerialNo. 181,971. (No model.)

To all whom) it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. KELLY, acitizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Divided Oar-Axle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in constructing a railroad-car axle in two separate parts, con- Io nected by a housing or coupling with outwardly-extending sleeves in such a manner that one part of the axlewith its wheel may rotate independently of the other.

The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the friction so incident upon the railway car or carriage wheels in turning curves upon their tracks or permanent ways is greatly lessened and the wheels caused to pass over their tracks without sliding, bind- 2.) ing, or impinging to any considerable extent against the rails. I accomplish this object by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my divided car-axle with one car-wheel in position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an outer end view of one-half of the coupling.

A represents a car-axle divided centrally,

with the two inner ends provided with collars B, which latter in practice may be shrunk upon the ends of the axles. The two ends of the divided axle are connected byrneans of a housing or coupling, 0 G, in the inner faces 5 of which is made an annular rabbet or ledge, D, which receives the collar B in which they operate. These collars are not flush with the faces of the coupling, but a sufficient space is provided in each rabbet when the collars are 0 in position to receive a metal washer or disk, D, and when the parts are united by the two parts of the coupling one half of the metal washer will be contained and held in position in the rabbet upon one side. of the coupling,

5 and the other half in the rabbet in the opposite coupling, and thus prevent all lateral movement of the washer or packing, and the faces of the two collars will abut against the metal washer, and thereby prevent end moveof the axle.

From the outer face of each half of the coupling or housing extends asleeve, E, within the end of which is formed a stuffing-box,.F, by means of a circumferential groove in the end of the sleeves, over which is placed the cap G, held by the nuts and bolts G. By this means that portion of the divided axle that is housed is rendered dust-proof.

In connecting the two parts of the housing or coupling the part 0 fits into the socket upon the part 0, in which position the two parts are united by the bolts and nuts shown by a close and-strong union of the parts. It is evident, however, that the parts may be united by a screw-cap in place of the bolts and nuts.

The parts are lubricated by means of a cup or oil-passage, H, in which the lubricant is placed. This cup or passage is rendered oiltight by the set-screw H.

The tires I of my car-wheels are preferably made fiat on a horizontal plane from their j unctures with the flange J, instead of rounding from the flange outwardly, as in the ordinary construction of car-wheel tires.

I am aware that a divided caraxle is old, and that a divided car-axle joined by a divided' coupling with a stufling-box at each end is not new, and further that a divided 8o car-axle with its opposing ends enlarged and with aball-and-socket joint between such opposing ends has been used, and therefore do not broadly claim such features; but,

Having thus described myinvention, what I 5 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the divided axle A, provided with end collars B, the interposed fiat annular washer or packing D, and the divided coupling 0 G, with recesses at the center to embrace and hold both the collars and the washer or packing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the divided car-axle 5 A, provided with end collars B B, a flat annular washer or packing, D, placed between In testimony that I claim the foregoing I said collars, and the divided coupling 0 C, have hereunto set my hand and seal. provided with recesses D at the center to embrace and hold both the collars and the JOHN KELLY 5 washer or packing, astuffing-box, F, at each Witnesses:

end, and an oil-passage, H, at the center, G. XV. M. SMITH,

substantially and for the purposes set forth. CHAS. E. KELLY. 

